1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
The stasis of the play bounces around he 1990's and takes place in Hwang's office usually or in press conferences. He is in the different spots in the United States like Boston or L.A. Marcus Gee is the actor he picks for the main role. Henry is David's father that gives him wise words throughout the play. Leah is Marcus' girlfriend and David's ex-fling.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
The intrusion that breaks the stasis is when David finds out that Marcus is full white and has no Asian blood. The stasis of the play was to appropriately cast Asian actors for Asian characters in a play but everything changes when David accidentally casts a white man.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The unique factor is that this is a time in the 90's where Asian pieces were being done by white actors like in "Miss Saigon". This was also a time were there was prejudice against Asians which becomes apparent in the cases during the end of the play. It really proves that the society is not treating everyone equally and yellow face IS occurring.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will yellow face ever end in the media? Will everyone find out that Marcus is white?
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
Hwang vs. Hwang: He basically set himself up for failure when he casted Marcus. He also just fired him which led to Marcus getting more famous. He was also being hypocritical when he was judging Marcus just because he was white. Hwang vs. another individual: When Hwang was being interviewed by the reporter, he has a guard up so the reporter does not twist his words around. The reporter lets out a racist comment and then Hwang has the upper hand in the interview. Hwang vs. society: He was trying to fight the social norms because it seemed like everyone was againist Asians during the trials. His dad had the Far East banking system and since he was very successful, they accused him of money-laundering. They cannot handle the success an Asian man had so they tried to take it away from him. So, David had to prove society wrong. Hwang vs. the universe: Hwang really went through some difficult times after his success with M. Butterfly. He had the flop of Face Value that impacted his career. Then, he learned that Marcus was doing great in the other play so it was like he was being taught a lesson. He shouldn't have lied or kept it a secret that Marcus was white but also, he judged him SO much because of it. Fate was trying to make him learn a lesson.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
The most theatrical moment has to the interview with the reporter. The play totally changes in that at first, David was feeling miserable and defeated because of the article written about his father. After the reporter says some offensive comments, David has something to turn it back on him. He basically tells him he is going to write aplay about him. It was an intense scene! The last scene was also very dramatic in that it revealed that Marcus was a fictional character. The last piece about Marcus finding his fit into the song of the village was very sweet and touching.
The stasis of the play bounces around he 1990's and takes place in Hwang's office usually or in press conferences. He is in the different spots in the United States like Boston or L.A. Marcus Gee is the actor he picks for the main role. Henry is David's father that gives him wise words throughout the play. Leah is Marcus' girlfriend and David's ex-fling.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
The intrusion that breaks the stasis is when David finds out that Marcus is full white and has no Asian blood. The stasis of the play was to appropriately cast Asian actors for Asian characters in a play but everything changes when David accidentally casts a white man.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The unique factor is that this is a time in the 90's where Asian pieces were being done by white actors like in "Miss Saigon". This was also a time were there was prejudice against Asians which becomes apparent in the cases during the end of the play. It really proves that the society is not treating everyone equally and yellow face IS occurring.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will yellow face ever end in the media? Will everyone find out that Marcus is white?
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
Hwang vs. Hwang: He basically set himself up for failure when he casted Marcus. He also just fired him which led to Marcus getting more famous. He was also being hypocritical when he was judging Marcus just because he was white.
Hwang vs. another individual: When Hwang was being interviewed by the reporter, he has a guard up so the reporter does not twist his words around. The reporter lets out a racist comment and then Hwang has the upper hand in the interview.
Hwang vs. society: He was trying to fight the social norms because it seemed like everyone was againist Asians during the trials. His dad had the Far East banking system and since he was very successful, they accused him of money-laundering. They cannot handle the success an Asian man had so they tried to take it away from him. So, David had to prove society wrong.
Hwang vs. the universe: Hwang really went through some difficult times after his success with M. Butterfly. He had the flop of Face Value that impacted his career. Then, he learned that Marcus was doing great in the other play so it was like he was being taught a lesson. He shouldn't have lied or kept it a secret that Marcus was white but also, he judged him SO much because of it. Fate was trying to make him learn a lesson.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
The most theatrical moment has to the interview with the reporter. The play totally changes in that at first, David was feeling miserable and defeated because of the article written about his father. After the reporter says some offensive comments, David has something to turn it back on him. He basically tells him he is going to write a play about him. It was an intense scene! The last scene was also very dramatic in that it revealed that Marcus was a fictional character. The last piece about Marcus finding his fit into the song of the village was very sweet and touching.